Automatic safety razor



April 2, 1935. c. .J. DARBY AUTOMATIC SAFETY RAZOR Filed Sept. 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6HHRLE$ J. DERBY- ATTORNE April "2, 11935. c. J. DARBY 1,996,503

AUTOMATIC SAFETY RAZOR Filed Sept. 24, 1932 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

F? .17 FFQLE ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. .2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SAFETY RAZOR Calif.

Application September 24,1932, Serial No. 634:740

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in safety razors and blade holders and is particularly applicable to razors generally known as the hoe type of razor, having a thin double edged flexible blade clamped between a backing member and a guard member, the blade engaged in shaving position to the guard teeth of the guard member by means of lugs, pins or projections, either as a part of the backing member or the guard member, and

a handle so threaded that by its manipulation the blade is clamped between the guard member and the backing member in retaining the blade in shaving position in relation to the guard teeth of the guard member. As is generally known this type of razor is provided with a backing member with lugs or pins passing through holes in the blade and into holes provided correspondingly in the guard member; or the blade provided with recesses at its ends adapted to receive pins or projections extended from the backing member toward the blade and not cooperating with the guard member but retaining the blade in shaving position in relation to the guard teeth of the guard member by means of a projection centrally provided on the blade side of the guard member. To my best knowledge and belief it is necessary that each member must be handled separately, namely the guard member, the backing member, the blade and handle before a blade can be applied thereto in this type of razor, either to wipe the blade off, for its removal or replacement.

The principal object of my invention is to' provide a safety razor with means whereby the necessity of placing together or the taking apart of each member of the complete assembly of the razor before or after usage is eliminated.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a safety razor that will permit the blade to be wiped or cleansed without removal from the razor and wherein the blade is disposed in an easy accessible manner.

My invention has a further object to provide a safety razor that will permit all parts to function automatically in the opening of the razor and where it is necessary to perform but one operation in its closing, thereby eliminating the necessity of taking apart or placing together each member of the complete assembly of the aforesaid mentioned parts and reducing the repetitional handling of the said parts to a minimum.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a safety razor, whereby the cost of manufacture with the installation of this invention is as cheap as with the type of razor described above.

This improved invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings provides a safety razor and a blade holder provided with means for detachably retaining ablade and wherein the blade cooperates with a backing member and a guard member in such amanner as to retain said members together and wherein a hinge connects the members together so that cooperation in returning the cutting edge of the blade in correct position with regard to the guard teeth and wherein the members operate to the action of a spring to retain the, blade holder in a position between the backing memberand the guard member so that the blade is accessible. 7

The-invention also comprises a latch held in a central end position on an integral part of the guard member, by which a compression spring attached to the bolt portion of the latch permits the backing member and the guard member to automatically. lock themselves together with the blade and blade holder therebetween in a novel manner.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation showing my razor;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the safety razor embody ing my invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hinge bolt;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the guard member;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the backing member;

Fig. 6 is a face view of the blade illustrating its position within the blade holder;

Fig. 7 is a detail end view of the guard member;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blade;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the blade;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the guard member;

Fig. 11 is an edge view of the razor in open position; I

Fig. 12 is an end view of the razor;

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the backing member;

Fig. 14 is a top view of the razor, the backing member removed;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional detail;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the control spring;

Fig. 17 is an end view of the blade holder illustrating the space for the tension springs placement;

Fig. 18 is an edge view of the blade holder, illustrating in section the retention of the blade, and

Fig. 19 is a side view of the latch, illustrating the latchs compression spring in position.

Referring in detail to the several figures in the drawings:l indicates the backing member, 2 the guard member, 3 the blade holder so shaped and offset in such a manner so as to receive and hold the blade 4. One end of the blade holder 3 is slotted to receive the tension spring 5, with one end of the tension spring 5 attached to the underside of the blade holder 3 in any suitable manner as for example by the end passing "thru a hole in the blade holder. The opposite end of the spring is securely fitted into the drilled hole 2E of the integral part 23 of the guard member 2 as shown in Fig. 10. The members .I, 2, 3 .and 5 are held together at one end by'means of the hinge bolt 6 as shown in Fig. 2. One endof said bolt is riveted to hold the members securely together in their respective positions. The backing member I and the guard member. 2 are .preierably slotted as at 2A and IA respectively (Figs. 4 and 13) and thus they cooperate in receiving-and holding the blade holder 3 with the blade 4 attached within the holder by means of the offset projections 30, 3D and 3E, indicated in Figure 18. At one end of the razor the members are tightly locked together by the latch 1 positioned by the integral part 2C of the guard member 2 and controlled by a compression spring 8 to move forward or backward thereby, causing the backing member I and the guard member 2 to automatically lock themselves together-with the blade and blade holder therebetween; The latch 'T'is provided with an arm orhandIeiA'for-depre's'sing the bolt portion'of the latch in-to' unlock the backing member from the guard member by sliding the bolt backward out of the slotted hole IC, on the backing member. This allows the tension spring 5 to automaticallyforce the backing member I through-a semi-circle from its closed position as shown in Fig. 1 to its open position as shown in Fig. 11. The tension spring 5 is so shaped and attached to the blade holder as to force the blade 4 held within the blade holder 3 to partially follow in a similar movement, the backing member, stopping at an upright position as shown in Fig. 11. The tension spring may also be attached to the backing member in a similar way in a reversed position to cause the same function as that when said member is attached to the guard member. The razor is brought to a closed position by pressing the backing member I over on top of the blade 4 and the blade holder 3, the parts 30, 3D and 3E of the latter member fitting into the slotted recess.IA of the backing member I while the slotted recess 2A of the guard member 2 receives the blade holder and blade at 3B and 3E as indicated in Fig. 18. In this movement the latch slot IC in the end of the backing member I, (Fig. 5) is snapped over the bolt 1 which is beveled to receive the said member, the compression spring 8 is depressed at the same time automatically forcing the latch bolt 1 by the springs intermittent compressing action to a locked position. The backing member is slotted in a centrally disposed position running the full length on the underside of the member as is also the guard member 2 slotted in the same position on the top side. Guard teeth are provided for the lat 1 member as indicated at 2D along which the cu ting edges of the blade 4 extends in position for usage.

The blade holder is comprised entirely of one piece and adapted for detachably retaining a double edged blade. The arrangement of. the offset projections of the blade holder 3 at 30 receive and oppose the edges of the blades central rectangular opening as indicated at 4A in Figs. 6 and 8. At both ends of the blade the blade holder retains this member in a secure embrace at 3D and 3E. The portion of the holder between 30 and 3E is provided with a widthwise indention 3G inwardly from the bottom of the holder and is raised to a height the thickness of the blade securing the blade so it cannot slide backward out of the groove at 3E. The opposing means 3C, 3D and 3E also assist in holding the blade in positive position insuring it from sliding forward or sideways. The arrangement of the opening 3A of the blade holder as shown in Fig. 17 supplies the space wherein is secured the tension spring The end portion of the holder at 3D is in parallel line with the offset portion at 3C and acts as a stop when the blade is inserted in the holder. The bolt 6 provides the means for holding the tension spring 5 within the space 3A of the holder passing thru the holders overlapped portion 3D inside the coiled portion of the tension spring as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 15.

This improved blade holder is not to be construed as a means for strapping the blade and is not a holder comprised of two or more pieces for locking the blade Within a holder by means of arms or latches.

The blade 4 for my improved safety razor and blade holder is provided with a centrally arranged oblong opening 4A with circular corners, positioned in a direct line parallel with slots being so disposed that when a blade is inserted in the blade holder one of the slots 43 is fitted over the top and edges of the blade holder and by sliding the blade along this member in an upturned manner as far as it will travel over the ofiset portion 30 of the blade holder is slid in under'the opposing portion 3D, the slot 43 acting as a guide for the blades placement. The blade is then pulled forward under the portion of the blade holder 3E and is held securely in place by the indention 3G and the ofiset projections 30, 3D and 3E, as previously pointed out.

In removing the blade this action is reversed by pulling the blade backward within the holder until it clears itself of the lip 3E and slides over the indented portion of the holder 3G, the blade is then pulled upward and out from in under the portion 3D. When the blade is to be cleansed or wiped 01f, after the razor has been brought to an unlocked position, it is held in an upright position within the embrace of the blade holder by one arm of the tension spring 5 as illustrated in Fig. 11, with all members in their respective positions, access to the blade being free and clear.

The handle of the razor is of one piece and is attached in any suitable manner by way of threading or by being pressed into the circular opening therefore provided in the bottom center of the guard member.

The latch is of one piece with means provided for passing thru a slotted hole of the integral part of the guard member 20 as shown in Fig. 10. A handle IA is an integral part of said member so placed as not to be in the way while handling the instrument. The compression spring 8 keeps the member in place at all times except when needed, with one arm of the latch holding the spring in place between the handle IA and the wall 20 thru which said arm passes and is held therein in a suitable way by bending the end of the arm downward for opposing the latch from sliding out of its proper position or by being forced out by the compression spring 8 causing annoyance in the operation of the latch bolt in passing in or out of the slotted holes IC and 20 as shown in Figs. 10 and 19.

It will be understood with my invention the blade is retained in the blade holder in a proper position for shaving by means of a one piece blade holder so shaped that by its cooperation with means provided in the backing member and the guard member the blade automatically finds its respective position in relation to the cutting edge in a relatively parallel line opposite the operative line of the guard teeth of the guard member and not by means incorporated in the backing member or the guard member to be held in position by means of projections, lugs, or pins or spaced holes in the guard member, the backing memberor the blade, nor to be clamped together with the blade therebetween by the manipulation of screwing or unscrewing a threaded handle, but is secured between said members in the embrace of a blade holder by the operation of a hinge and latch as integral parts of the backing member and the guard member, controlled by the tension of a compression spring, in opening or closing the said members that make up the assembly of the razor.

May it be further understood that various details of construction may be arranged to suit difierent conditions of use without departing from the spirit of the invention except so far as the same is defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a razor, a holder comprising a guard and a backing member, a blade holder pivotally mounted on said guard, said blade holder including spaced members at one end, one of said members being resilient, a hook portion at the other end of said holder and a blade, said blade including a notched portion at one end adapted to be fitted between said spaced portions and a notched portion at the other end adapted to fit said hook portion.

2. In a safety razor, a guard member, a clamping member pivoted on said guard member, a blade holder pivoted on said guard member, said blade holder having end portions thereon for engaging the ends of a safety razor blade, said blade holder having an intermediate raised portion for engaging a safety razor blade, and a razor blade, said blade having end notches fitting said end portions of said holder and having an intermediate slot fitting said intermediate raised portion of the blade holder.

3. In a safety razor, a body having a blade holder pivoted thereon, said blade holder having end portions thereon, a blade having end notches fitting said end portions to prevent endwise movement of the blade, said holder having an intermediate ofiset portion, said blade having a slot fitting said offset portion to prevent lateral movement of the blade and means to hold the blade holder against the body.

CHARLES J. DARBY. 

